Margaret M. Buessing, 88, of Axtell, Kansas, died Wednesday evening, May 13, 2009, surrounded by her family, at Life Care Center of Seneca, where she had been a resident since April 2004.

Margaret was born June 6, 1920 on a farm north of Baileyville, the daughter of John C. and Mary Vondemkamp Fienhage. She attended Cottonwood Country School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1928.

On January 30, 1940 she married Joseph Henry Buessing at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. They lived and farmed south of Baileyville for five years before buying a farm east of Axtell. They raised livestock and operated a Grade A dairy. In the fall of 1960, they purchased the drug store, Buessing Sundries in Axtell. They also owned and operated the Axtell Laundromat. They sold their farm in 1972 and moved into Axtel. In 2000, Margaret was seriously injured in a car accident. She adapted to being in a wheelchair, but she and Joe moved to a smaller house to make housekeeping easier.

Margaret was an excellent seamstress, making her own wedding dress and most of her children’s wardrobes. She enjoyed raising chickens and planting a large summer vegetable garden that kept her busy canning. She also took great joy in refinishing old furniture, oil painting, and reading. She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Axtell and a past president of the Altar Society.

She is survived by her husband Joseph of 69 years; six daughters, Jane and husband Clarence Nordhus of Baileyville, June and husband Walt Rottinghaus of Seneca, Joanie and husband Ken Frankel of Pasadena, California, Ruthie Rottinghaus of Richland, Washington, Connie and husband Eldon Rottinghaus of Ozawkie, and Peggy and husband Terry Rottinghaus of Axtell; a son, Jim and wife Martha Buessing of Shell Knob, Missouri; sisters, Roberta Oenbring of Seneca and Grace Eastman of Portland, Oregon; a brother, John F. Fienhage of San Francisco, California; and 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Fienhage on November 7, 1979; her mother, Mary on April 2, 1958; a baby sister, Edna on January 5, 1925; a brother, Wilfred Fienhage on March 13, 1999; and a grandson, Blake Buessing on January 15, 1994.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, May 16, at St. Michael’s Church in Axtell; before the funeral mass Margaret will lie in state at the church beginning at 9 AM. Burial will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 PM Friday, May 15, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca and 7 PM Friday at St. Michael’s Church.

Memorials may be given in Margaret’s memory for St. Michael’s School or Sts. Peter & Paul School, and sent in care of the family.